Packing retainer for journal boxes



Feb. 9, 1954 .1. o. HERR 2,663,740

PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed March 2, 1953 INVENTOR. John D.H err ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1954 PACKING RETAINER FOR JOURNAL BOXESJohn D. Herr, Minerva, Ohio, assignor of onefourth to Dick W. Mount,Minerva, Ohio Application March 2, 1953, Serial No. 339,527

8 Claims. (Cl. 308-89) The invention relates to retainers for thepacking in journal boxes, and more particularly to a simple andefiicient device for retaining waste in proper position in the journalbox of a railway car.

One object of the invention is to provide a packing retainer which is soconstructed that it will permit of easily placing waste or similarpacking in the journal box, and which will retain the packing in properposition during relative movement between the journal and the box.

Another object is to provide such a packing retainer having anadjustment therein which compensates for relative longitudinal movementbetween the journal and the box.

A further object is to provide a packing retainer formed of flat,non-abrasive sheet material such as copper, bronze, brass, plasticmaterial or the like, comprising an arcuate rear member to the upperends of which are adjustably connected substantially horizontal members,an arcuate front member being connected to the forward ends of saidhorizontal members.

A still further object is to provide a packing retainer of thischaracter in which the front arcuate member is formed of two hingedparts with spring means associated therewith for urging the same towardthe journal.

Another object is to provide a packing retainer of the type referred toin which the front arcuate member is hingedly connected to the forwardends of the horizontal members and adapted to be swung upwardlytherefrom to permit packing to be placed in the box beneath the journal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a packing retainerin which adjustable spring means connects the horizontal members to therear arcuate member.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawing and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be attained by constructing the improved packing retainer in themanner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a detached, perspective view of a packing retainer embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical, longitudinal sectional view through a journal box,showing the improved packing retainer located therein;

Fig. 3 a transverse, vertical, sectional view through the journal box,taken as on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional view, taken as on the line4-4, Figs. 2 and 3; and

Fig. 5 a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of adjustment.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, in whichsimilar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, a conventional typeof journal box for railway cars is indicated generally at I0, containingthe journal II, and adapted to be closed by the usual cover I2.

The bearing I3, located in the top of the journal box, is supported bythe journal II, and the bearing is engaged by the wedge I4 which engagesthe top of the journal box, all as in usual and well-known practice inthe construction of such journal boxes.

The journal extends into the journal box through an opening I5 on theinner side of the journal box, said aperture being provided with anyconventional oil seal I6, having a circular opening I! for engaging theenlarged, cylindrical portion l8 of the journal.

Suitable packing, preferably the customary waste, as indicated at I9, islocated in the bottom of the journal box and extends up into engagementwith the bottom of the journal and with the sides of the journal to apredetermined point, as is customary in the packing of journal boxes.

The packing I9 preferably terminates adjacent to the outer end of thejournal, leaving an open space 20 to serve as a well for excesslubricant, the level of which is indicated at 2I. This lubricant issoaked up by the waste, and by capillary attraction it is drawn up intothe upper portion of the waste and thus deposited upon. the rotatingjournal I I, keeping the journal lubricated at all times.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.1 to 4 inclusive, the packing retainer to which the invention pertainsmay be formed of any suitable non-abrasive sheet metal, such as copper,bronze, brass or the like, or of plastic or other suitable non-abrasivematerial.

As best shown in Fig. l, in which the improved packing retainer is shownremoved from the journal box, the device includes the arcuate rearmember 22 having the substantially semi-circular upper or inner edge 23shaped to conform to the curvature of th journal at the rear end of thebox, as will be later described.

The upper ends of the member 22 terminate in forwardly disposed,substantially horizontal arms 24, each having a suitable projection atits forward end, such as a stud 25, to provide astop. .If desired, eacharm 24 may be reinforced, so

as tohold it rigidly perpendicular to the rear member 22, as by theangle member 26 attached by any usual and well-known means, such as bywelding.

A forwardly projecting lug 2'! may be formed at the lower edge of therear arcuate member 22, for contact with th bottom of the journal boxand, :if --,desi-red, a 1 curved spring 21a "may be attached to the lug=2"! and extend forwardly therefrom, for the purpose of urging packingupward into contact with the journal. The lug 21, contacting the bottomof the journal box, will tend to prevent the retainer from rotatingaround the journal in the directionbf ,itstravel.

The horizontal members 28 .arelongitudinally, adjustably connected tothe arms 24, as by the loops 29 fixed upon th membersi28 as "by-rivets30 of the like, and slidably mounted vupon the arms 24, the studs 25upon said arms "limiting forward sliding movement of the loop 29 upon Afront arcuate member, indicated generally at 31, is hingedly'attache'dto the forward ends of *the horizontal :members 28, :as indicated -at32, :so :that it =may 'be iswung upward from the fullfline position tothe dotted line position shown iin'Eig. 1,:to facilitate the-placing ofpackingin the journal boxes will be laterdescribed.

Ihe z'front member 3| is'preferablyiorined of the .spring .36 :connectedat opposite ends to the studs 31, for normally urging :the members 33sandi34itoward each :otherfor a purposeto be :later. explained.

'Inorderto place packing in the journal box, the packing :retainer shownin :Fig. :1 is sfirst Jinserted .into the journal box through th opening38, the cover I2 being of-.co11rse held open. The rear ,arcuate :member"H of the packing retainer is located toward the rear of the journalbox, the front iarcuate member 3! being swung up- :wardmponits'hinges-ez to the dotted-line :posi- :tion :shown ,in Fig. 1, and:being located forwardly of the collar j39;on-theziront or outer ,end ofth journal.

{If-his :permits :the waste ;or :packing :material to be .placedin thelower portion of-the journal box beneath the horizontal member 28 of the:packlin retainer and around the underside of the journal. H

'-When the proper amount of packing has been placediin the {journal box,in the manner above -describ.ed, th .iront arcuatemember 23;! is swungdownward upon its hinges 32 and is slightly expanded by :Pulling the:parts 33 and .34 thereof =outwardly so that they pivct upon thepivotpoint iii-Q1113 arcuate :member :is released, the spring :will-.movez-these parts towardeach other intossu-b- :stantial ;engagementwith :the undersid of the journal lil just to therearof thecollar39thereof. The rear arcuate member 22 of the packing retainer willsurround the enlarged portion 18 of the journal and will rest againstthelback wall of the journal box, the forwardly disposed lug 21 thereofresting upon the bottom. wall (ii-1111.8 journal box, as best shownin-Fig. 2.

The working parts of the packing retainer are thus free to move inconjunction with the journal and journal box in their lateral,horizontal and vertical movements and will at all times hold the packingin proper place.

It will be seen that any relative longitudinal movement between thejournal and the journal vbox will be compensated for hyetheilongitudinaladjustment of the horizontal members 228 of the packing retainerrelative to the rear arcuate arcuate member 22 thereof.

The packing retainer is thus not anchored in .anypart'of the journal boxbut is free to move in all directions with the journal, while at thesame time preventing the packing from movin up around 'the top of thejournal and lodging iunderithezbearing.

It will also be seen that the improved packing retainer *will preventlateral movement of the packing relative to the journal, thus preventingit *from working soul; from under ithe 51011131131. The horizontal:members 2 8 will at all :times prevent vertical displacement of thepacking while the tfront :and 1 rear iarcuate members 252 and il willprevent horizontal displacement ofthe pack- 1mg.

:In :Fig. '5 :is l shown a modified form of adjust- ;ment between therea-riarouate member :zi'i'and thehorizontal member 28'. As shown,thelrear ends of the horizontal members la' are connected to the upperends of the. rear :arcuate member by means :of inverted,-U--shape:springs 4.0.

These springs should-hev positionedso thatithey will :tend to normally:urge the horizontal -members 2B forward, -.r.elative to the 'reararcuate member 22,-so as-to normally position-the front arcuate member.3! against the inner-sideof the collared of the journal.

Relative longitudinal movement between the journal-and journal-box willthus lee-compensated for. If desired, in order to -maintain the=journalmembers .28 substantially horizontal, pins ii may be fixed @to the upperends .of the rear arcuate member 21 and extend through openinge2 in thesprings Adpermittingthe forward portion of eachspring to move upon thesepins as the packing retainer automatically adjusts itself to compensate:ior :relative :movement between the j ournal and-j ournal box.

Except for the-spring adjustmentshown :inzFig. '5,'this form of packingretainer may be :otherwise constructed as best showniin Fig. 31,thatiis, a front arcuate member such iasshown at All :in Fig. i maybehinged to the forward ends of the horizontal-members 28, and theoperation of this form of the invention will be-asa'bove described.

With the construction illustrated and "above described, the packingretainer is first placed in the journal box, after which the packing isinserted. The placing of the retainer in position thus .doesnot disturbthe packing, as is the case with the forms .of packing retainers now ingeneral use.

The retainer cannot be removed without first removing the packing. .Thisprevents packing retainers from being readily stolen or discarded, byneglect on :ioreign roads. The construction also facilitates normalpractice-of inspection and service while cars are in the yards .or enroute.

In the foregoing'description, certain .termsaih'ave been used-forbrevity, clearness 'andaunderstanding, but no unnecessary limitationsareto lie implied therefrom beyond -the requirements of the prior art,because .such words are used for de construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and usefulconstructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, forwardly disposed, parallel, substantially horizontal members,spring means adjustably connecting the horizontal members to the upperends of the arcuate rear member, an arcuate front member and meanshingedly connecting the arcuate front member to the forward ends of thehorizontal members, said packing retainer adapted to be arranged withinthe journal box with the rear and front arcuate members near oppositeends of the journal for holding packing introduced into the journal boxagainst horizontal displacement, and the horizontal members adapted tobe arranged on opposite sides of the journal for preventing verticaldisplacement of the packing.

2. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, forwardly disposed, parallel, substantially horizontal membersconnected to the upper ends of the arcuate rear member, an arcuate frontmember and means hingedly connecting the arcuate front member to theforward ends of the horizontal members, the arcuate front membercomprising two similar parts, means pivotally connecting said partstogether and sprin means for urging said parts toward each other, saidpacking retainer adapted to be arranged within the journal box with therear and front arcuate members near opposite ends of the journal forholding packing introduced into the journal box against horizontaldisplacement, and the horizontal members adapted to be arranged onopposite sides of the journal for preventing vertical displacement ofthe packing.

3. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, forwardly disposed, parallel, substantially horizontal members,means adjustably connecting the horizontal members to the upper ends ofthe arcuate rear member, an arcuate front member and means hingedlyconnecting the arcuate front member to the forward ends of thehorizontal members, the arcuate front member comprising two similarparts, means pivotally connecting said parts together and spring meansfor urgin said parts toward each other, said packing retainer adapted tobe arranged within the journal box with the rear and front arcuatemembers near opposite ends of the journal for holding packing introducedinto the journal box against horizontal displacement, and the horizontalmembers adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of the journal forpreventing vertical displacement of the packing.

4. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, forwardly disposed, parallel, substantially horizontal members,spring means adjustably connecting the 6 horizontal members to the upperends of the arcuate rear member, an arcuate front member and meanshingedly connecting the arcuate front member to the forward ends of thehorizontal members, the arcuate front member comprising two similarparts, means pivotally connecting said parts together and spring meansfor urging said parts toward each other, said packing retainer adaptedto be arranged within the journal box with the rear and front arcuatemembers near opposite ends of the journal for holding packing introducedinto the journal box against horizontal displacement, and the:horizontal members adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of thejournal for preventing vertical displacement of the packing. I

5. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, forwardly disposed arms at the upper ends of the arcuate rearmember, parallel horizontal members, means slidably adjustablyconnecting the horizontal members to said arms, an arcuate front memberand means hingedly connecting the arcuate front member to the forwardends of the horizontal members, the arcuate front member comprising twosimilar parts, means pivotally connecting said parts together and springmeans for urging said parts toward each other, said packin retaineradapted to be arranged within the journal box with the rear and frontarcuate members near opposite ends of the journal for holding packingintroduced into the journal box against horizontal displacement, and thehorizontal members adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of thejournal for preventing vertical displacement of the packing.

.6. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, inverted U- shape springs connected to the upper ends of thearcuate rear member, forwardly disposed, parallel, substantiallyhorizontal members connected to the inverted U-shape springs, an arcuatefront member and means hingedly connecting the arcuate front member tothe forward ends of the horizontal members, said packing retaineradapted to be arranged within the journal box with the rear and frontarcuate members near opposite ends of the journal for holding packingintroduced into the journal box against horizontal displacement, and thehorizontal members adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of thejournal for preventing vertical displacement of the packing.

7. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, inverted U- shape springs connected to the upper ends of thearcuate rear member, forwardly disposed, parallel, substantiallyhorizontal members connected to the inverted U-shape springs, horizontalpins fixed to the upper ends of the arcuate rear member, there beingapertures in the U-shape springs through which said pins are located, anarcuate front member and means hingedly connecting the arcuate frontmember to the forward ends of the horizontal members, said packingretainer adapted to be arranged within the journal box with the rear andfront arcuate members near opposite ends of the journal for holdingpacking introduced into the journal box against horizontal displacement,and the horizontal members adapted to be arranged on opposite sides ofthe journal for preventing vertical displacement of the packing. V

8. A packing retainer for journal boxes, comprising an arcuate rearmember, inverted U- member'andmeans :hingedly connecting the ar- @5:cuate from member to the forward ends-of the horizontal members, thearcuate front member comprising two similar :parts, means pivotallyconnecting said parts together and-spring means for urging :said partstoward each other, said panking retainer adapted to be arranged withinthe-journal-box with the reariand vfront arcuate members near oppositeends of the journal for holding packing introduced ,into the journal box:8 against horizontal displacement, and the -horizontal members adaptedto be arranged oneoppo- :site sides of the Journal for preventingvertical displacementnf the packing.

JOHN D. I-IERR.

References Cited in the .file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'IENTS vNumber Name Date Re. 12,786 Patten Apr.28, 19.08 1,I22 ;036 Simmons Dec.22, I914 2,371,247 'McMu'Ilen --'Mar.13,'i1955

